Orchard walk: Huon Valley, February 2007

February 2007 | Future Orchards® orchard walk | Huon Valley, Tasmania

This Future Orchards® orchard walk was held at Hansen Orchards, Grove, and facilitated by Jesse Reader of Serve-Ag. The February 2007 program focused strongly on the relationship between orchard light interception, canopy volume and productivity, with technical input from Dr Simon Middleton and Steve Spark.

Key discussion points included aiming for about 60 per cent mid-season light interception, using Tree Row Volume and Leaf Area Index as practical performance measures, and designing intensive plantings so trees fill their allotted space without creating excessive internal shading. The notes identify tree densities of roughly 2,000-3,000 trees per hectare and dwarfing rootstocks as important tools for achieving early light interception and precocity.

The walk also covered harvest management and Gala maturity. Growers were encouraged to plan labour and supervision carefully, track maturity using pressure, starch and Brix, manage irrigation approaching harvest and make market destination part of picking decisions. The overall message was to connect orchard architecture, light capture, crop management and harvest discipline with marketable yield and return on investment.